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B. D; HORTON.

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.

I APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29. I914.

1 0,6 1, Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

'BRYSON D. HORTON, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR. ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

Application filed December 29, 1914. Serial No. 879,482.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRYSON D. HORTON,

a citizen of the United States, residing in will enable one skilled in the art to make and use the same.

My invention relates more particularly to improved means for connecting movable switch contacts of the knifeblade variety to a bar or other actuator member. The object of my invention is to provide such means of cheap and inexpensive construction. Broadly speaking, my invention comprises a device for suspending the blade contact beneath the bar or actuator memher by a single instrumentality which straddles or part1 surrounds the same, this member, pre erably, being formed of a single piece of metal, or wire, slotted and bent to proper form so as to accommodate both the blade and the actuator member.

In the figure of the accompanying drawing, 1 have shown one of the many embodiments of which my invention is susceptible. As shown, a bar or actuator member 1 of suitable material is associated with a knife blade 2. The bar or actuator member is preferably, though not necessarily, cylindrical in form, and usually made of insulating material, or of metal with an insulating sleeve, such material, however, forming no art of my invention in the present case. The knife blade contact 2 is usuall rectangular in cross section. The knife b ade may be mpunted at one end, as 2*, for oscillatory movement for making and breaking electrical contact at the other end with a second fixed contact not shown. The bar 1 and blade 2 are arranged at substantially right angles to one another. At the point of connection between the actuator member and the blade contact 1 preferably cut away, as at 3, a portion of the lade, thus leaving an aperture having the contour of the actuator member so that the latter may find a seat therein, in order that lateral movement-pf the blade with respect to the actuator member is prevented.

;as being formed of a sing metal bent lnto U form with apertured free 'portion 3 of the blade.

Such a mounting as has thus been generally described, has the advantage that the actuator member and blade are caused to maintain a positive operative relationship, While, at'the same time, the possibility of undesirable relative movement between them is eliminated.

The connector member specifically is provided with a saddle, or encircling portion, 5, partially or wholly surrounding the actuator member whenin blade supporting position, the blade supporting portion of the connector being directed downwardly beneath the bar, as shown. The depending portion of the connector is provided with an aperture or space 6, laterally directed with respect to the rock arm to accommodate the knife-blade contact.

actuator member will cause the switch arm to move on its pivot toward or away from the stationary contact, in a positive manner, and without relative movement between the two.

In the figure the connector is illustrated le piece of sheet ends, the actuator bar being positioned through the apertures of the ends and the knife-blade resting in, or projecting through, the U, a binding screw 7 being employed to engage the knife-blade so that the latter may be forced'upwardly into close contact with the actuator bar.

In the form described, the parts are caused to have a very intimate and close connection without the use of binding screws .and the like; the connecting member or device may be made of a single sheet of spring metal bent to a hook shape, with one of its ends slotted, as at 6, to accommodate the switch blade 2, the other end having an 0 en slot to also accommodate theswitch blade 2, the bar resting within the cutaway The connecting member therefore straddles the bar. The bar -2 may be provided at its lower edge with a notch 4 to receive the connecting member and thereby block the bar in position.

The encircling portion 5 is adapted to cause the bindlng of the actuator member against the knife blade and in the cutout 1 portion 3, and in conjunction with the notch 4, to positively hold the parts together in a close anti-rattling association.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many other forms could be devised, and structural changes made. without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention as defined by the following claims, and I therefore desire it to be understood that the drawings and description are to' be considered as illustrative and not in the limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

with a closed slot therein to receive said rectangular knife blade, the other end of said connector having an open slot adapted to receive a portion of, said knife blade, said connector adapted to cause the binding of said rectangular member in said first mentioned slot, and against said bar.

2. The combination of a bar, a rectangu- 7 lar knife blade arranged at substantially to clamp around sald bar, and having one end extended and provided with a closed slot therein to receive said rectangular knife blade, the other end of saidconnector having a slot adapted toreceive a portion ofsaid knife blade, said connector adapted to cause the binding of said rectangular memher in said first mentioned slot, and against said bar.

3.\A connector adapted ,to connect a bar and a rectangular member arranged at right angles thereto, comprisinga single piece of sheet material curved to clamparound said bar, and having one end extended and provided With a closed slot therein to receive said rectangular member, the other slot of said connector having an open end adapted toreceive a portion of said rectangular member, said connector adapted to cause the binding of said rectangular; member in'said first mentioned slot and against said bar.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto'set my hand in the presence of two subscribing w1tnesses;

WM. C. DUNN, P. FRANK SoNNEK. 

